This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on January 15, 2024 - January 21, 2024

Raw materials are depleting due to excessive consumption, which is surpassing global production capacities. To sustain the circulation of goods to meet human needs, securing future raw materials by keeping them in a “loop” — instead of going into landfills or being disposed of by other methods — is important.

These are a few terms to understand how the circular economy works:

Circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Products that have been used will be turned into raw materials for new products. The aim is to let the raw materials continue to circulate for as long as possible and minimise the use of virgin materials.

Common strategies used in circular economy models include recycling, reusing, remanufacturing, refurbishing, repairing and repurposing.

The linear economy relies on the extraction of finite resources to make products that are used and get thrown away after one use.

Virgin materials are materials sourced from nature in their raw form and have not yet been used in production.

Non-virgin materials are sourced from used materials. This includes materials that have been reused, refurbished, repaired, re-engineered and recycled.

Recycled items are crafted entirely or partially from materials that have undergone recycling.

Recyclable items can be collected and transformed into new products after being used. These items may or may not contain recycled materials and can contribute to environmental benefits only when individuals recycle them after use.

For instance, recycled plastic bottles are plastic bottles that are made up of 100% or a percentage of recycled plastics. Recyclable plastic bottles can be made from virgin plastic or recycled plastics and can be collected after use to make recycled plastic bottles.

Compostable items are organic items that go through a microbial breakdown and are eventually made into compost that can fertilise soil. It may take weeks to six months to decompose.

Biodegradable items are capable of being broken down into non-harmful products with the help of microorganisms. Although it may take a decade to degrade, items like biodegradable plastic do decompose faster than traditional plastic, which can take 450 years to break down.

The supply chain process involves transporting used items from end users back to the supply chain. The used items will go through the processes of recycling, repair, reuse, refurbishment and remanufacture.

An environmental policy approach where a producer’s responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of a product’s life cycle. This means that all stakeholders in the value chain have to take responsibility for the amount of post-consumer waste produced. The waste could be reduced via improvements in product design — using less plastic in the packaging, for instance — and treatment or collection systems for post-consumer products.

Source: Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2030, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WWF

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